ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Wellington Independent, Volume VII, Issue 648, 27 December 1851, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Canterbury Association.—An Act had been passed to amend the Canterbury Association's Act. The principal features are, that it gives power to tho Association to constitute a managing Committee in the settlement, with delegated authority to act. It empowers them to grant licences lor cutting timber to appropriate land for public purposes, to prepare for occupation the unappropriated land ofthe settlement, and to determine disputes respecting the enjoyment of pasturage and other licences. Any further grants of land will be made subject to prior provisions respecting the settlement. The bill was read a "third time and passed in the Commons, on the 4th August, passing the Lords on the 6th.

New Zealand Settlements. —An Act of Parliament had also been passed to regulate the affairs of the settlements established by the New Zealand Company. The first clause ofthe bill proposed to place absolute in the Governor-in-Chief to dispose of the waste lands at Wellington, Nelson, and New Plymouth, in any manner and at any price he pleased. This clause was altered, and upon Mr. Gladstone's motion, the price of the waste lands is to remain unchanged. The second clause, placing similar powers in the crown with respect to Otngo, was omitted. Clauses 9 — 10, which now stand first in the act, regulate the management of the Nelson Trust Fund, vesting it in the Commissioners of the Treasury, und appointing seven trustees for its management at Nelson.

This bill originally contained the obnoxious and unfair proposition to which we have already called the attention of the New Zealand settlers, viz., the settlement of £268,000 of tho New Zealand Company's debt upon the general revenue of the colony. Notice of opposition to this having been given by Mr. Gladstone in tlie House of Commons, and by the Duke of Newcastle in the House of j Lords, that part ofthe measure was with-1 drawn, Lord Grey feeling it impossible to I pass it if opposed.

On the motion for the third reading Mr. Gladstone was absent, but Mr. V. Smith objected to the haste with which the bill had been passed through its previous stages. In Committee of the Lords the Duke of Newcastle inquired of Earl Grey whether the coutriimtions for special purposes, which in some settlements were included in the payments per aero, would equally with the actual price of tho land be secured from alteration at the discretion ofthe Secretary of State. Earl Grey replied that the power of dealing with these contributions was effectually restricted.

A large body of teetotallers visited the exhibition on the sth of August. Their numbers were variously estimated ; the teetotallers themselves guessing fifteen thousand, and sceptical police officers doubting if there were much more than half that number. It is at least certain that they constituted the largest " teetotal" array which the cause of temperance has ever yet collected together in this country. They consisted chiefly of the working classes, their wives and children, neat, clean, well dressed, happy, aud healthy-looking, and indicating in every way those orderly habits which, beyond question, distinguish the devotees of "total abstinence." Arrived at the Crystal Palace, they soon distributed themselves among its departments, to revel in its wonders; refreshing themselves con amore, at intervals, at the transept fountain. Besides these there were the usual crowds of excursionists from the country, and throughout the day the building had the appearance of being well filled. The police numbers give the attendance as 68,069.

Mr. E. 11. Baily, R.A., has just completed tho clay model of tho statue of Sir Robert Peel. The statue measures 10 feet in height, and is to be executed in bronze, and to be erected in the town of Bury. Every one is familiar with the easy aud masterly chisel of this sculptor. This statue is equal to any of his former efforts. The late Sir Robert is represented addressing the House of Commons, and those familiar with the attitude of tho speaker have borne witness to the likeness. The head is spirited and lifelike, and is chiefly taken, as it must more or less be, from Lawrence's wellknown portrait. The pedestal is to be adorned with designs emblematic of commerce, agriculture, &c.

In tho early part of July the weather was extremely hot and forcing; yet, as the soil had not lost much of its previous moisture, vegetation made rapid progress in all parts of the United Kingdom. Throughout the foward districts, haymaking becamo general about the sth. The progress, with the exception of two or three days, was marked with much rapidity, and the fields were speedily cleared of their produce somewhat earlier than usual. The quantity of hay stacked this year in tho neighbourhood of the metropolis, and in most of .the midland counties, is unusually large, and in excellent condition. Of course much yet | renauins to be douo in tho north, but

our accounts on this head are very favourable. Police, Industrial, and other Statistics of Manchester.— The annual report of Captain Willis, the Chief Coustable of Manchester, has just been published, containing, as usual, some elaborate and useful tables, which, besides showing the activity of the police, give a good idea ofthe progress ofthe borough in population, in material wealth and recources. By this return it appears that the population has risen from 235.507 in 1841 to :30.*J,308 in 1851; and the gross number of habitable houses litis increased from 44,4(12 to 53,697. One happy feature of this part ofthe return is that tho inhabitants living in cellars have diminished from 22,924 in 1841 to 20,399 in 1851. The total annual value ofthe property has increased in the same period from £8i 1,664 to £ 1,204,241. The gross number of all buildings is now 58,385, of which 103 are cotton mills, 7 silk mills, 3 worsted mills, 18 small ware mills, 7 print works, 35 dye works, 15 hat manufactories, 49 machinists, 38 foundries, 4 lead works, 3 paper works, 27 saw mills, 11 corn mills, 775 workshops, 1,619 warehouses, 6,262 shops, 109 places of worship, 413 public and private schools, 12 banks, 10 markets, 2 theatres, 7 railway stations, 3 public warehouses, 8 infirmaries and hospitals, 14 public institutions, 33 public buildings, 53 livery stables, 176 breweries, 121 slaughter-houses, and 511 buildings used as offices. The total new buildings within the last year were 1,566 —comprising 2 cotton mills, 4 saw mills, 21 workshops, 11 warehouses, 1,358 dwellings, 118 shops, 8 churches and chapels, I bath and washhouse, 3 breweries, and 2 schools. The total number of reputed thie\es residing in the borough within the knowledge of the police is 305 and 267 persons known occasionally to steal. Ho :ses where thieves resort 234; houses for the reception of stolen property, 141.

Society of Antiquaries, May 29.— Lord Mahon, President, in the chair.— The table displayed a great variety of early weapons in stone, bronze, and iron, in illustration of a paper by Mr. Akeraan — especially for the purpose of establishing one point, on which he dwelt emphatically, viz.:—that the arms of all people iv what may be called a savage state are very similar. Thus, the weapons of the New Zealanders, of the natives of Australia, and of the ancient Irish were shi.wn to be nearly identical, and extremely like those of the Britons, Franks aud Gauls, as well as of our Anglo-Saxon forefathers, —which however, had undergone some improvements. Mr. Akerman entered into different questions connected with early modes of offence aud defence, and enforced two particulars. One of these, as we understood it, was, that although the " bipenuis" was mentioned by several authorities, no specimen of it had been brought to light in excavations in this country or in France:—the 1 second was, that nobody had yet (lis covered an example ofthe barbed spear, or javelin, which it was known that the French constantly employed most effectively against their enemies,—the fact that they used it at all depending solely on the statements of early writers on military antiquities. i

Instantaneous Photogenic Images. —It has long been a desideratum in Photographic science to obtain a truly instantaneous portrait of a body in rapid motion. Some experimenters have indeed published what they call " instantaneous processes" but it will readily be understood that this is merely a phrase expressive of rapidity.—and that such processes do not iv fact give distinct images of bodies moving swiftly across the field of view. A photographic process recently invented by Mr. Talbot having appeared to him to exceed in sensibility any other with which he was acquainted, he resolved to try whether it were possible to obtain by means of it an instantaneous image. The experiment wss tried at the Royal Institution,—and proved successful. The arrangements adopted were as follows :—A printed paper was fixed upon the surface of a wheel. A camera was carefully adjusted to give a correct image of this wheel. The room was then darkened, and a very sensative plate was placed in the camera,—the wheel was turned by a handle until it acquired a great velocity,—the greatest, iv fact, which could be given to it. At this moment the camera was opened, and a powerful electric battery was discharged in front of the wheel, illuminating it with s sudden flash of brilliant light. The sensitive plate was the taken out of the camera, and the imago was developed. The plate was found to contain an imago ofthe words printed on the paper :—and it was remarkable to observe that there was no indistinctness of outline in them, notwithstanding the rapid motion of tho wheel. The valuable uses, to which this novel fact in Photography can be applied are too obvious to require to be specifically pointed out. It will only be necessary for photographers to devise convenient and easy methods of obtaining the electric spark and throwing it on the object, and we shall bo able to arrest and embody the most fugativo phenomena which present themselves to the eye.— Alheiueum.

The Dundee Advertiser says that at, Lctham Saw Mills, a couple of wrens are now rearing their young in the pocket of an old coat, which one of tho laborers had left hanging on a shed, while the other pocket has been taken possession of by a colony of wild bees.

An Equivocal Disclaimer.—The force of emphasis in giving meaning to a sentence, is well illustrated by a brief colloquy we overheard between two por-'

sons the other day. "Do you imagino mo to be a scoundrel, Sir ?" demandod one indignantly. " No" was the reply, " I do not "imagine" you to be one." —

North British Advertiser

A Wild Max or the Woods.—Tho Memphis (U.S.) Enquirer gives an account of a wild man recently discovered in Arkansas. It appears, that during I March last, Mr. Hamilton, of Green-; ! county, Arkansas, while out hunting with an acquaintance, observed a drove of cattle in a state of apparent alarm, evidently pursued by some dreadful enemy. j Halting for the purpose, they soon discovered, as the animals fled by them, | that they were followed by an' animal bearing the unmistakeahle likeness of humanity. He was of gigantic stature, the body being covered with hair, and the head with loug locks that fairly covered his neck and shoulders. The wild man, alter looking at them deliberately for a short time, turned and ran away with great speed, leaping from 12 to 14 feet at a time, his footprints measuring 13 inches each. This singular creature, the Enquirer says, has been long known traditionally in St Francis, Greene, and Poinsett counties, Arkansas, sportsmen and hunters having described him about seventeen years since. A planter, indeed, saw him very recently but withheld his information lest he should not be credited, unlil the account of Mr. Hamilton and his friend placed the existonco of the animal beyond cavil. A great deal of interest is felt in the matter by the inhabitants of that region, and various conjectures have been °veu' tured in regard to him. The most general entertained idea appears to be, that he was a survivor of the earthquake disaster which occurred in 1811. Thrown helpless upon the wilderness by that disaster|it is probable he that grew up in his savage state, until he now bears only the outward resemblance of humanity. So well authenticated have became tlie accounts of this creature, that an expedition is organizing in Memphis, by Colonel David C. Cross and D. Sullivan to scout for him.—-.Yew York Express. At a late anti-Slavery meeting in America, one Milton Clark stated °that when he escaped from slavery into the Free States, he was soon supplied by friends with letters to different persons to help him on his way northward, and among them " was one Millard Filmoiv, who seemed rejoiced at his escape, harboured him, gave him money, and lul >ed him on his way—performing, j u f actj the very act which he says now shall be visited with condign, punishment..'" The New York Mirror says that a few Sundays ago a clergyman, of diminutive stature, was invited to preach in a church near Ploughkeepsie. It happened that the pulpit was a very high one, and nearly hid his reverence from view. At the close of the first portion ofthe services " a nose and two little eyes appeared over the top of the pulpit, und a squeaking, tremulous voice pronounced in nasal tones the text, < Be of good cheer, it is Ibe not afraid.' A general laugh followed the announcement—the clergyman became confused, and turned oil sorts of colors. Many, in the general uproar, left the church, and it was a long time before the minister was enabled to proceed with his sermon, which had been so abrubtly broken off."

Earthquake at Cofiapo.—A correspondent writing from Copiapo on the 25th May, says:—"While I am writing this the house and all the city are rock° ing like a cradle. About 2 p. m. we have had the most severe earthquake felt here since 1819; in fact I expected the city would have been entirely destroyed; the earth was rising and falling like the waves ofthe sea—every thing in commotion, the windows, doors, and roofs of the houses cracking and breaking, parapets of houses thrown into the middle of the street; several exc&llent houses entirely destroyed, and others still standing that must 'be taken down, but ours has stood to the amazement of every one, owing to the repairs I had put about it two years since, when I bound the walls together by iron bars, and which is now being introduced throughout the place in nearly all the new built houses. While lam now writing, 9 p. m., the house is shaking most fearfully; we have a fresh shock every ten or fifteen' minutes, but not so strong as the first.— P. S , 27th, 10 o'clock a. m :—We have had a continued earthquake throughout the night with scarcely any intermission; if the house cease for ten minutes to tremble, it seems only to recruit strength and then it commences with renewed force, shaking the walls to the very centre but as yet we have suffered but little injury, and I hope the worst is over. But few ventured to sleep in their houses last night; in fact there has been no sleeping at all—every one on tho alert every moment. This is rather an anxious time, but olr house will stand a great deal more yet."

The Veiled Vestal.—The universal appreciation which we hold to bo so right in case of Kiss's 'Amazon,' we hold to°bo just as wrong in the instances ofthe 'Veiled Vestal' of Raffaelle Monti and the ' Boy and the Broken Drum,' of "m Simonis. The ' Veiled Vestal' is a trick in art hardly worth doing once, and certainly not worthy of repetition. By an ingenuity which we have no desire to see copied at home, M. Monti has succeeded in expressing in one piece of marble the features of a beautiful female as seen beneath a veil. At first sight, ono is inclined to think that tho veil is not of marblo,—that it is a real veil,—-in other words, that it is an inferior trick to that which it is. As wo approachnearor, tbb

impression is removed,— conceit carefully carried out,—a diffiouhJ not worth the trouble of encounter! Z $ gen.ously overcome. The trick, howoSj has its admirers beyond theniob.f, he statue is the property of the Duke of Oevonshire,—who has luckily shown n Clmtsworth that his taste is not restricted to the prettiness of sculpture. M Men too. has shown in his 'Eve after the Fallthat he is capable of greater efforts Here we have beauty of form and senti" ment without trick a composition removed from the cold rules of Academical Art. and the same dexterity with the chisel as is exhibited in his 'Veiled Vestal.' Tho sackcloth on the knees of Sir Sichard Westmacott's sweet female figure i v Westminster Abbey finds more admirors than the touching beauty ofthe face and form. The guides direct especial attention to its true sackcloth character,—and they at least know tho taste of the many The Veil of M. Monti has in the same way more admirers than the delicate limbs and sweet fitce of his mother of mankind.— Alhenreum.

The Puesext Ejiperoh ay Chixa.— The following statement, which appeared in the last number of the Annates de l a Propagation de la Foi, is calcttlaied to create a considerable sensation in the Christian world :—" The young Emperor of China, who succeeded his father at his death in February, 1850, having, at his accession, rejected tho demands addressed to him by the mandarins for permission to persecute the Christians within his dominions, published a decree in tho month of June, in the same year permitting the free exercise ofthe Christian religion throughout his dominions. The Emperor at the same time invited four missionaries to wait upon him, who are to be lodged in his palace. Monsignor Perroneau, Bishop of China, has informed us in a letter, dated tlie sth of September, 1850, that the Emperor was educated by a Christian lady in whom the late Emperor placod unbounded confidence. A similar education had been formerly given to some of the Roman emperors during the three centuries of persecution, and the Christians thereby obtained an occasional respite, so valuable for the propagation of the faith among those naturally timid souls, who in all times and couutries have been the most numerous." Elopement Extraordinary : — AxEarly Notion.—On Wednesday night last, Mr Patrick J , of S ,' in tho county of Kildare, was awakened by a person singing near his bedroom window, and on opening the casement, heard, to his great surprise, the following ditty:— The stars tire smliilin' slnvee love, The birds shleqi in enc'.i bosv.-r; An' the holy light o' ihe moon shines bright O'er ev'iy tree an' Cower. Then 'Lizii ru-e yon wiikin'? Or il' you hear me S[ink:n' ? Slime yon know my heart is brenkin' For the love o' you 'I.izn, dear. Then why iloif t yon sj.cak, nmrronc! Or ure you a stick or a stone, And so bright an' so could, Just like uiaim.i ov old,

Without iiiiniliu' your ilurlint' oclione? The last wild accent had scarcely died away, when Mr. J called out, " Who's there ?" " It's me, sir," replied a small piercing voice, which he immediately recognized as that of Tommy Currin, a precocious of the neighbourhood. " What arc you doing there, Tommy?" "Oh! sir, my mother is unwell, and has been ordhercd to some ofthe herb—what d'yo call it? Oh! it grows on the garden wall there, sir, and must be pulled ufther cock crow an' afore the sun shines on it, or it will have no vartue, they say, sir; so she sint me for it at this onsaisonablo hour; but although I didn't like the business over and above well, yit shure I couldn't refuse her; an' thinking I might as well sing grief as cry it, I begun to lilt up that taste ov a rhomausla to keep myself company. Gootl night, sir." "Good night, Tommy." Mr. 5 rose early next morning, as is indeed his usual practice ; and on going to his business, his attention was arrested by a bundlo lying on the avenue, a short distance from tho hall-door, which on examination ho found to contain several articles of ladies' wearing apparel, that he at oneo knew to belong to his daughter's wardrobe. _ A dreadful thought flashed across his mind : he rushed to her chamber, and in an instant found his worst apprehension to be correct. Miss Eliza was gone! A servant girl, named Kitty Foy, has since acknowledged that she was in the whole seciet, and instrumental in carrying on the affair; that Miss J took with her only £14, which belonged to her mother; and that she and Cufriu were gone to Cork, with the intention of starting from thoneo to America. Tho metropolitan and the Cork police authorities have been apprised of the matter, aud every possible step has been taken for their arrest, but pursuit has as yet proved fruitless. Miss Eliza is turned of thirteen! and Master Tommy is going on fifteen! whilst the lassie, through whose instrumentality this foolish and unthinking pair have been thus prematurely

Launched upon life's stormy sea, has not yet attained her fifteenth year.—• Leinsicr Express, (a wonderfully "improving" paper).